Electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/740,011, filed Jan. 11, 2013 and now pending, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/079,937, filed Apr. 5, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,742, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/226,818, filed Oct. 29, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,156,944, which is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national filing of International Application No. PCT/CN2007/001575, filed May 15, 2007, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200620090805.0, filed May 16, 2006.

BACKGROUND ART

Smoking causes serious respiratory system diseases and cancer, though it is hard to persuade the smokers to completely quit smoking.

Nicotine is the effective ingredient in cigarettes. Nicotine acts on the receptor of the central nervous system.

Nicotine is a micromolecular alkaloid, which is basically harmless to human bodies at a small dosage. Plus, its half life period is extremely short in blood. Tar is the major harmful substance in tobacco. Tobacco tar comprises several thousands of ingredients, dozens of which are carcinogenic substances.

To provide cigarette substitutes that contain nicotine but not harmful tar, many products have been used. These products are not as harmful as tar, but are absorbed very slowly. As a result, smokers can't be satisfied in full. In addition, the smokers are deprived of the “smoking” habit.

The electronic cigarettes currently available on the market may resolve the above-mentioned issue, though they are complicated in structure, they don't provide the ideal aerosol effects, and their atomizing efficiency is not high.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, an aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a bottle assembly. The battery assembly connects with the atomizer assembly and both are located in a housing. The bottle assembly is located in one end of the housing and fits with the atomizer assembly.

The battery assembly may include the battery, an operating indicator, electronic circuit board, and airflow sensor, which are connected with the battery, and with the signal output of the airflow sensor connected to the electronic circuit board.

A component for liquid storage of the cigarette bottle assembly stores the nicotine liquid. Smokers can enjoy the feel of smoking, with no fire hazard since there is no need for igniting.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the side section view of an electronic cigarette.

FIG. 2 is the section view of the housing (a) separated from the cigarette bottle assembly.

FIG. 3 is the diagram of the axial structure of the cigarette bottle assembly, illustrating the ventilating groove on the peripheral surface of the cigarette holder housing.

FIG. 4 is the side section view of the cigarette bottle assembly, illustrating the structure of the air channel.

FIG. 5 is the side section view of a porous component of the atomizer.

FIG. 6 is the diagram of the structure of an electric heating rod of the atomizer.

FIG. 7 is the side section of the atomizer, illustrating the locations of and connection relation between the electric heating rod and porous component.

FIG. 8 is the diagram of the atomizer, illustrating the locations of and connection relation between the electric heating rod and porous component.

FIG. 9 is the section view of a check valve.

FIG. 10 is the front section view of a restriction component in a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of the axial structure of the cigarette bottle assembly in another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the structure of the electric heating rod of the atomizer in another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a section view of the porous component of the atomizer in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of the axial structure of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side section view of the atomizer in the embodiment of FIG. 13, illustrating the locations of and connection relation between the electric heating rod and porous component.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of the axial structure of the atomizer in another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is the side section view of the atomizer shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is the side section view of another electronic cigarette embodiment.

FIG. 20 is the electric circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette.

FIG. 21 is another electric circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a charging device, illustrating the locations of and connection relation of various internal parts.

FIG. 23 is the side section view of the charging device.

FIG. 24 is the diagram of the front structure of the charging device.

SPECIFIC MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, an aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly, and also includes a shell or housing (a), which is hollow and integrally formed. The battery assembly connects with the atomizer assembly and both are located in the shell. The cigarette bottle assembly is located in one end of the shell, which is detachable. The cigarette bottle assembly fits with the atomizer assembly. The shell has through-air-inlets (a1).

In this specific embodiment, the battery assembly includes the battery, and the operating indicator (1), electronic circuit board (4), and airflow sensor (5), which are connected with the battery. It also includes a check valve (7). The signal output of the airflow sensor (5) is connected with the said electronic circuit board (4). The battery is a rechargeable battery (3), which may be either a rechargeable polymer lithium ion battery or a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The airflow sensor (5) may be alternatively a semiconductor force-sensitive chip capacitance sensor or an inductance sensor.

The rechargeable battery (3) has a flexibly connected charging plug (2). The blades (21) of the charging plug (2) come out of the other end of the shell (a). Between the charging plug (2) and rechargeable battery (3) is a spring (6), which lies against the body of the rechargeable battery (3) on one end, while its free end lies against the charging plug (2), forming a flexible structure, which buffers the charging plug (2) when plugged for charging, thus protecting the rechargeable battery against any damage. Of course, the rechargeable battery (3) in this embodiment has a charging slot on it, which replaces the structure of charging plug (2) to perform the charging function and protect the rechargeable battery (3) against any damage. The operating indicator (1) is a LED. In this embodiment, there are two LEDs. The electronic circuit board (4) includes an electronic switch circuit, which controls the electric circuit according to the input signals, so that the rechargeable battery (3) electrifies the electric heating rod (82) inside the atomizer (8) and the LEDs as well.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airflow sensor (5) has a silica gel corrugated membrane (53), which connects with magnetic steel (54) with a reed relay (52) on one of its ends. Both ends of the said reed relay (52) correspond to the relay electrodes (51) respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the atomizer assembly is an atomizer (8), which includes a porous component (81) and a heating rod (82). The body of the porous component (82) has a run-through atomizing chamber (811). The diameter of the electric heating rod (82) is less than the diameter of the atomizing chamber (811). The electric heating rod (82) enters into the atomizing chamber (811), and there is a clearance between the electric heating rod (82) and interior wall of the atomizing chamber (811), which forms a negative pressure cavity (83). One end of the porous component (81) fits with the cigarette bottle assembly. As FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 show, the porous component (81) has a protuberance (812) on the other end, and the protuberance (812) fits with the cigarette bottle assembly. The protuberance (812) is a protruding half sphere, on the side of which there is a run-through hole (813) connecting to the atomizing chamber (811). Of course, the protuberance (812) may also be a taper, rectangle or any other shape. The porous component (81) is made of foamed nickel, stainless steel fiber felt, macromolecular polymer foam or foamed ceramics, providing the remarkable capabilities in liquid absorption and diffusion, and the ability to absorb the liquid stored in the cigarette bottle assembly.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electric heating rod (82) includes a cylinder (821). The heating wire (822) is wound on the wall of the cylinder (821). On the wall of both ends of the cylinder (821), there are mandrils (823) respectively, which lie against the interior wall of the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous component (81). There is a negative pressure cavity (83) between the electric heating rod and interior wall of the atomizing chamber.

The heating wire is made of platinum wire, nickel-chromium alloy wire or iron-chromium alloy wire containing rare earth, or is flaked. The electric heating rod (82) may alternatively have on its peripheral wall the heating layer made of electrically conductive ceramic PTC material, to replace the heating wire.

In this embodiment, the battery assembly and atomizer assembly are mutually connected and then installed inside the integrally formed shell (a) to form a one-piece part. The rechargeable battery (3) may be charged without frequent change of battery. The user just needs to plug the cigarette bottle assembly into the open end of the shell (a), for easy use and very easy change.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cigarette bottle assembly includes a hollow cigarette holder shell (b), and a perforated component for liquid storage (9) inside the shell (b). The perforated component for liquid storage (9) is made of such materials as PLA fiber, terylene fiber or nylon fiber, which are suitable for liquid storage. Alternatively, it may be plastic foam molding or column of multi-layer plates made through plastic injection with polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and polycarbonate. One end of the cigarette holder shell (b) plugs into the shell (a), and the outer peripheral surface of the cigarette holder shell (b) has an inward ventilating groove (b2). On one end surface of the cigarette holder shell (b), there is an air channel (b1) extending inward. The air channel (b1) is located in the center on the surface of one end of shell (b).

As shown in FIGS. 1-9, one end of the porous component (81) lies against one end surface of the perforated component for liquid storage (9), and contacts the perforated component for liquid storage (9). It absorbs the cigarette liquid from the perforated component for liquid storage (9). When the smoker smokes, the cavity of the cigarette holder shell (b) is in the negative pressure state. In the shell (b), one end of the airflow sensor (5) forms a normal pressure cavity, while the other end forms a negative pressure cavity. The air pressure difference between the normal pressure cavity and negative pressure cavity or the high-speed airflow enables the magnetic steel (54) of the airflow sensor (5) to drive the reed relay (52) to contact the relay electrode (51).

As shown in FIG. 20, the electric circuit is electrified, and the electronic switch circuit on the electronic circuit board (4) is electrified. Thus, the rechargeable battery (3) starts to electrify the electric heating rod (82) inside the atomizer (8), and at the same time, the LEDs, which are electrified by the rechargeable battery (3), emit light. The air enters the normal pressure cavity through the air inlet (a1), passes the check valve (7) via the airflow passage in the airflow sensor (5), and flows to the negative pressure cavity (83) in the atomizer (8). Since the negative pressure cavity (83) provides the negative pressure compared with the outside, the air flow sprays into it, bringing the cigarette liquid from the porous component (81) to spray into the negative pressure cavity (83) in the form of fine drops.

In the meantime, the electric heating rod (82) is electrified by the rechargeable battery (3) under the control of electronic circuit board (4), to heat the fine drops for atomization. After atomization, the big-diameter fine drops are re-absorbed by the porous component (81) under the action of vortex, while the small-diameter fine drops are suspended in the airflow to form aerosol, which is discharged through the negative pressure cavity (83) and run-through hole (813), flows into the cigarette holder shell (b) of the cigarette bottle assembly, and is absorbed by the air channel (b1). When the aerosol enters the cigarette holder shell (b), multiple small liquid drops are condensed into bigger ones, which fall into the clearance between the cigarette holder shell (b) and air channel (b1) without being absorbed by the air channel (b1). The perforated component for liquid storage (9) of the cigarette bottle assembly and the porous component (81) of the atomizer (8) contact each other to achieve the capillary impregnation for liquid supply.

The unit and its connecting structure of this invention may also be loaded with drugs for delivery to the lung.

As shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24, the electronic cigarette (5) is held in a charging device. The charging device includes a case (1), which contains an auxiliary charging storage battery (2) inside it, and holds the electronic cigarette (5) and the charger (3) for the rechargeable battery embedded in the electronic cigarette (5), as well as the power supply circuit. The power inputs of the auxiliary charging storage battery (2) and charger (3) are connected with the power supply respectively. The charger (3) in this embodiment is a constant voltage & current charger. It may be a GY5210 charger, or any other constant voltage & current charger. The case (1) has a spare liquid supply bottle (4) in it. The power output of the auxiliary charging storage battery (2) is connected with the power input of the charger (3). The power output of the charger (3) is a charging slot (31), which fits with the charging plug of the rechargeable battery inside the electronic cigarette, or a charging plug, which fits with the charging slot of the rechargeable battery.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, on the body of the shell (1), there is a pair of slide ways (12) corresponding to the position of the electronic cigarette, and on the slide ways, there is a slide cover (11).

In the second preferred embodiment, a restriction component (10), which is detachable, is set on one end of the porous component (81). There is a restriction hole (101) on the body of the restriction component (10). The restriction hole (101) corresponds to the atomizing chamber (811). The pore diameter of the restriction hole is less than the inner diameter of the atomizing chamber (811) to the extent that the size of the restriction component (10) installed on the porous component (81) varies, for the purpose of airflow capacity control. On the basis of different applications, the restriction component of different sizes and pore diameters may be used.

In the third preferred embodiment of this utility model, as shown in 11 and 12, on the outer peripheral wall of the cigarette shell (b), there is a protruding rib (b2) that is evenly partitioned. The perforated component for liquid storage (9) enters the cigarette holder shell (b) and lies against the protruding rib (b2). Thus, there appears a clearance between the outer peripheral surface of the perforated component for liquid storage (9) and the interior wall of the shell (b). The clearance is for connection the shell (a) and cigarette holder shell (b). When the user smokes, the air channel (b1) absorbs the air to cause airflow inside the shell (a), thus triggering the airflow sensor (5) and eventually starting the electronic cigarette. Also, the atomizer (8) works to atomize the cigarette liquid and produce gas flow, which enters the cigarette holder shell (b).

In the fourth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16, on one end of the cylinder (821), there is a fixed plate (84), whose outer peripheral wall has partitioned supports (841). The outer ends of the supports (841) lie against the interior wall of the shell (a), thus suspending the cylinder (821), which is connected with the fixed plate (84), in the cavity of the shell (a). On the surface of the fixed plate (84), there is a mandril (842), whose front end lies against one end of the porous component (81), so that the fixed plate (84) is separated from the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous component (81). As a result, the run-through hole on one end of the atomizing chamber (811) won't be blocked, and the mist generated in the atomizing chamber (811) can be dispersed. One end of the porous component (81) has two protuberances (812) at the outlet of the atomizing chamber (811). Between the two protuberances (812) is a clearance. The two protuberances (812) lie against the perforated component for liquid storage (9).

In the fifth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the atomizer assembly is an atomizer (8), which includes a frame (82), the porous component (81) set on the frame (82), and the heating wire (83) wound on the porous component (81). The frame (82) has a run-through hole (821) on it. The porous component (81) is wound with heating wire (83) in the part that is on the side in the axial direction of the run-through hole (821). One end of the porous component (81) fits with the cigarette bottle assembly. The porous component (81) is made of foamed nickel, stainless steel fiber felt, macromolecular polymer foam or foamed ceramics.

In the sixth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the airflow sensor (5) has a silica gel corrugated membrane (53), which connects with magnetic steel (54) with a Hall element (52), or a magneto-diode or a magneto-triode on one of its ends. FIG. 21 shows the electric circuit of the electronic cigarette of this solution. 

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising: a battery assembly having a battery assembly housing; an atomizer assembly having an atomizer assembly housing plugged or threaded into the battery assembly housing, with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly; a liquid storage component in the atomizer assembly housing; one or more through-air-inlets in at least one of the battery assembly housing and the atomizer assembly housing; the atomizer assembly including a porous component having a run-through hole; a heating wire in an air flow path through the run-through hole; and the porous component in contact with the liquid storage component.
 2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the atomizer assembly supported by a plate fixed in place within the atomizer assembly housing.
 3. The electronic cigarette of claim 2 with wire leads of the heating wire extending through the plate.
 4. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the porous component is cylindrical and has a central axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the atomizer assembly housing.
 5. The electronic cigarette of claim 4 with the heating wire wound in a spiral having a center axis parallel to the central axis of the porous component.
 6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the liquid storage component comprises a perforated component.
 7. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 further including a restriction component adjacent to a first end of the porous component, with the restriction component having a restriction hole having an inner diameter less than an inner diameter of the run-through hole.
 8. An electronic cigarette, comprising: a battery in a first housing and a liquid storage component in a second housing plugged or threaded into the first housing; one or more through-air-inlets in one or both of the first housing and the second housing, and an outlet in the second housing; a cylindrical porous component in the second housing having a central axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second housing, with the porous component in contact with the liquid storage component, and the porous component having a through hole forming atomizing chamber; a heating wire wound in a spiral in the atomizing chamber and electrically linked to the battery via heating wire leads passing through a plate at a first end of the porous component, with the plate fixed in place in the second housing.
 9. The electronic cigarette of claim 8 further including a restriction component at a first end of the atomizing chamber, with the restriction component having a restriction hole with an inner diameter less than an inner diameter of the atomizing chamber.
 10. An electronic cigarette, comprising: a battery in a first housing and a liquid storage component in a second housing plugged into or threaded into the first housing; one or more through-air-inlets in one or both of the first housing and the second housing, and an outlet in the second housing; a porous component in the second housing with the porous component in contact with the liquid storage component, and with the porous component having a tubular run-through chamber; a heating wire in the run-through chamber and electrically linked to the battery; and a restriction component at a first end of the run-through chamber, with the restriction component having a restriction hole with an inner diameter less than an inner diameter of the run-through chamber.
 11. The electronic cigarette of claim 10 with heating wire supported by a plate fixed in place within the second housing.
 12. The electronic cigarette of claim 11 further comprising wire leads extending through the plate and connecting to the heating wire.
 13. The electronic cigarette of claim 11 wherein the porous component is cylindrical and has a central axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second housing.
 14. The electronic cigarette of claim 13 with the heating wire wound in a spiral having a center axis parallel to the central axis of the porous component.
 15. The electronic cigarette of claim 8 wherein the liquid storage component comprises a perforated component. 